Aren't you getting tired of the constant ghosts, zombies, scare fests, etc.? Are you craving something more intellectual, something that doesn't involve shooting or blood spatter? Then why don't you try Escape from the Pumpkin Room by Tesshi-e, a calm, relaxed, simple escape the room game in which the only connection with the season are the jack-o-lanterns present in the space.

There's no prologue, no back-story, just you in a locked room. And a lovely room it is, too. Mind you, it would be nice to leave, so let's explore, shall we? As with most room escape games you must search the room for clues and objects that will help you get out. Poke around, open everything (if you can), and see how quickly you can leave and get that cup of coffee you've been craving.

Navigation is smooth and simple, with bars at the edges of the screen allowing you to wander through the room. There's no changing cursor, so there is a bit of a pixel hunt, but most objects are fairly easy to spot and they seem to have adequate clickable areas. Inventory control is a simple tool-box at the bottom of the screen with a friendly "about item" button to allow you to more closely examine anything you might happen to pick up. If the accordion music becomes too annoying, there is always the volume control or mute button at the ready. As with all of Tesshi-e's games there is no save button, but there's no real need for one.

Analysis: Occasionally it's nice just to sit back, relax, and fire up the little gray cells to solve a series of puzzles rather than fry them from constant adrenaline. Escape from the Pumpkin Room is not the most original or taxing room escape game, but it's a wonderful cure for the mid-week blahs. A nice combination of logic puzzle solving and use of found objects guarantees that you will enjoy stretching the neurons a little without ending up slamming your head on the desk in frustration.

As always with Tesshi-e's designs, the room is beautiful to behold in its own minimalist way. Colors, textures, and lighting blend together to create a warm, inviting space. Heck, the room is a place most people wouldn't mind spending time in if they weren't forcibly locked in. Freedom!

Of course, there are a few flaws. The puzzles could be more difficult, but there are some clever ones, and not every escape game can be Lights. Tesshi-e games are usually heavy on the construction, but not this one. Escape from the Pumpkin room is more "how can I use this object to accomplish what I want to do?" rather than "how many of these items can I put together to create something else entirely." Although the game itself is in Japanese, you don't need to understand the language to complete it. Important clues are either in English or are pure logic. And, of course, there's the obligatory "regular escape" and "happy coin escape" so prevalent in Tesshi-e's previous works. Note to those who wish to play: When you follow the link to the page, scroll down a bit as the game is halfway down the page. Just look for the large picture of what looks like a cafe, and you'll see the start button.

So if you're sick of ghouls and goblins, or just want to waste a little time solving puzzles, then fire up Escape from the Pumpkin Room and escape from the prevalence of Halloween-themed games.

Turn left
Click on the sofa
Click the left cushion once, get a candle
Click the right cushion 3 times, revealing the code for the rose painting
Back, right. Click on the corners of the rose painting

Top left, top right, bottom left x2, bottom right

It will reveal a "safe" with no handle, and a "circle" key
Back, turn right
Click on the basket, click it again to get a "plug I"
Back, take the jack-o-lantern
Inspect the jack-o-lantern and take plug III from its right eye
Back, click the plant on the right, take a candle
Back, right x2
Unlock the right cupboard with the key
Click the right teacup and take the candle (I have no idea how he hid a candle inside it)
Click the bluebottle, open it and take "plug II"
Back, click the bottom-right cabinet
Notice that, although there's a combination lock on the door, you can still open it, revealing another lock.
Click the one on the door repeatedly until at some point the numbers cannot be changed anymore. This will be the code for the lock inside.
Take the screen thingy and the "clubs" key after you've unlocked it.
Inspect the screen thingy. You can insert the plugs into the slot at the bottom right. You can also click the 3 buttons on the right side, which will show the colours green, yellow and red
With the green button turned on, plug in the 3 plugs, and combine all the squares lit up on the screen. They will show a digit. Repeat for yellow and red. Now you have the code for the middle cabinet.
Take the box inside the middle cabinet, also notice the switch
You'll find the handle for the safe behind the rose painting
Close the box, and put it on the white square in front of the cupboards
Click above the water tank. Take the knife and the "spades" key
Unlock the left cabinet with the "clubs" key
Click the grinder, open the little drawer, and take the note inside, which shows the code for the lighter (the green coil)
Back once, and take the light-blue alcohol lamp
Back, unlock the left cabinet with the "spades" key. Take the jack-o-lantern with square eyes and a hose
Left x3
Attach the handle to the safe, take the jack-o-lantern and a cork
Right x3, back to the water tank
Click above the tank, put the hose into the tank through the square hole, then cork the hose
Click the hose once to pull it out
Step back, and take back the box
Flip the switch inside the middle cabinet, step back
Click the hole in front of the cabinets, revealing a jack-o-lantern that you cannot reach yet
Click the hose, water will flow in and now you can take the jack-o-lantern. You'll also see some shapes corresponding to the eyes of the jack-o-laterns
Back, left
Click the arrows on the lighter (green coil) according to the note to light it up
Light the alcohol lamp (you have to remove its cover first) and the candles. Alternatively you can light the candles with the lamp
Put the candles and the lamp into each of the jack-o-lanterns (you have to click the top of the lanterns to open them)
Right x2
Place them onto the stands according to the shapes you saw underwater. What? None of them has circle eyes? No problem. Time for pumpkin-carving ^^

Once of the triangular-eyed lanterns can be cut into circle-eyed, with the knife of course

Once you get them right, a "heart" key will be revealed, Unlock the door and you're out.

Posted by:
bwansy |
October 28, 2009 1:53 AM

Escape From the Pumpkin Room Walkthrough

General Information

There are two endings, regular and happy coin.

Remember, you can use objects on other objects or combine them.

Pay close attention to the eyes of the pumpkins.

You also may need pencil and paper.

Enjoy the accordion music!

Rose Painting

You are facing a rose painting (and a locked door).

Click on the painting for a close up.

If you click on the painting corners, the painting moves.

Nothing more to do here right now, so back up and turn left.

TV Wall/Sofa

Click on the sofa for a close up.

Click on the left cushion to raise it up. Take the object from underneath. You have a candle!

Click on the right cushion to raise it up, click on it to put it back down, then click again to turn it upright. Notice the funny code on the underside.

This appears to be a code of corners. What have we seen that you can click the corners on?

Back up and turn right to the rose painting.

Rose Painting

Let's try the code we learned from the couch cushion, shall we?

When you click on the picture the picture will tilt or go back upright. Don't worry about it, just follow the code.

I opened the floor panel to reveal a pumpkin, but I don't know how to get it out. In my inventory, I have two lit jack o'lanterns, two lit candles, a thingy that says "mildescape" and a grey box (I have other items but I've used them already so I didn't include them here.

Turn left
Click on the sofa
Click the left cushion once, get a candle
Click the right cushion 3 times, revealing the code for the rose painting
Back, right. Click on the corners of the rose painting

Top left, top right, bottom left x2, bottom right

It will reveal a "safe" with no handle, and a "circle" key
Back, turn right
Click on the basket, click it again to get a "plug I"
Back, take the jack-o-lantern
Inspect the jack-o-lantern and take plug III from its right eye
Back, click the plant on the right, take a candle
Back, right x2
Unlock the right cupboard with the key
Click the right teacup and take the candle (I have no idea how he hid a candle inside it)
Click the bluebottle, open it and take "plug II"
Back, click the bottom-right cabinet
Notice that, although there's a combination lock on the door, you can still open it, revealing another lock.
Click the one on the door repeatedly until at some point the numbers cannot be changed anymore. This will be the code for the lock inside.
Take the screen thingy and the "clubs" key after you've unlocked it.
Inspect the screen thingy. You can insert the plugs into the slot at the bottom right. You can also click the 3 buttons on the right side, which will show the colours green, yellow and red
With the green button turned on, plug in the 3 plugs, and combine all the squares lit up on the screen. They will show a digit. Repeat for yellow and red. Now you have the code for the middle cabinet.
Take the box inside the middle cabinet, also notice the switch
You'll find the handle for the safe behind the rose painting
Close the box, and put it on the white square in front of the cupboards
Click above the water tank. Take the knife and the "spades" key
Unlock the left cabinet with the "clubs" key
Click the grinder, open the little drawer, and take the note inside, which shows the code for the lighter (the green coil)
Back once, and take the light-blue alcohol lamp
Back, unlock the left cabinet with the "spades" key. Take the jack-o-lantern with square eyes and a hose
Left x3
Attach the handle to the safe, take the jack-o-lantern and a cork
Right x3, back to the water tank
Click above the tank, put the hose into the tank through the square hole, then cork the hose
Click the hose once to pull it out
Step back, and take back the box
Flip the switch inside the middle cabinet, step back
Click the hole in front of the cabinets, revealing a jack-o-lantern that you cannot reach yet
Click the hose, water will flow in and now you can take the jack-o-lantern. You'll also see some shapes corresponding to the eyes of the jack-o-laterns
Back, left
Click the arrows on the lighter (green coil) according to the note to light it up
Light the alcohol lamp (you have to remove its cover first) and the candles. Alternatively you can light the candles with the lamp
Put the candles and the lamp into each of the jack-o-lanterns (you have to click the top of the lanterns to open them)
Right x2
Place them onto the stands according to the shapes you saw underwater. What? None of them has circle eyes? No problem. Time for pumpkin-carving ^^

Once of the triangular-eyed lanterns can be cut into circle-eyed, with the knife of course

Once you get them right, a "heart" key will be revealed, Unlock the door and you're out.

You just need to have it in your possession when you leave. The regular escape gets you a screen with pumpkins, the happy coin escape shows a nice patio somewhere and you're obviously having a cup of coffee.

This is unrelated but driving me crazy! Does anyone remember an online game where you were investigating aliens in a small town? I remember you had a limited amount of time to pick up clues. You didn't have to battle the aliens or anything. Anyone know what I'm talking about?

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